The analysis of Arthur Dimmesdale in the Scarlet Letter.doc

The Analysis of Arthur Dimmesdale in the Scarlet LetterAbstractIn the scarlet letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, there is a most tragic character that is the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale because in the novel, he is the most ambiguous role for his noble rank and his behavior. But no matter what others think of him, I think, he is the most successful role in the novel. In this paper, I will talk something about Dimmesdale in the positive angle according to the other authors papers.Key words: rank; behavior; conflict; roductionA. As a clergymanIn the novel, first, Dimmesdale is characterized as a hypocrite who conceals his mean behavior. He who doesnt have enough courage to together with his lover is a pious clergyman. He sent his mistress to stand on the scaffold with the letter ”A” which means “adultery” and doesnt confess that he is the man Hester tries to protect. But later, he suffers a lot. Compared to the statesman Bellingham and the so-called respectable Whilson, he is a true man, a true hero and a true orthodox priest. We can see the change of him from a hypocrite to a true man who confronts his crime bravely. We can feel his anguish. We can touch his deepest heart. So Dimmesdale is one multi-faceted man. A brilliant speaker, a kind man, a wise reverend-everyone loves this guy. For seven years he remains silent but suffers a lot which is represented by the declining of his body. At last, recognizing that death is imminent, he chooses to purify his soul by confessing his sin publicly and revealing the scarlet letter A that has appeared on his chest over his heart. The symbol on his skin suggests that though we may hide our sins as best as we can, they will always surface and be revealed.Dimmesdales rank in the countryA. As a ClergymanHe is a preacher who follows his religion and is respected by people in the country. And in peoples heart he is pious, divined, skillful and pathetic. Whats more, he is almost regarded as the representative of God in people heart. But as a true man, he desires for true love and happiness life and he has his own pursue.B. As Hesters LoverAs Hesters lover, he is very hypocritical. He fails to take his responsibility to stand together with Hester on the scaffold. He even sends Hester to the scaffold by himself and ignores her scolded by others and its he that announces Hesters crime.C. As a FatherAs a father he should foster and educate his daughter Pearl well. He should give Pearl enough fathers love, but all of these he fails to take. He puts all the responsibilities on the shoulder of Hesters. Hester by herself looks after of their daughter Pearl under enormous pressure and in an extremely hard condition that Hester makes a living through sewing clothes for others. During the seven years, he leaves them in a miserable environment. These behaviors should be scolded strictly.D. To ChlillingworthBut to Chillingworth, he is a victim. Chillingworth the missing husband of Hesters, tries hard to find out who is Hesters lover, that makes him shamed and believes that Dimmesdale is the man he wants to find but at the beginning he doesnt have enough evidence to proof his suspection and later by a chance he finds what he has thought is true. So as a doctor, he can contact with Dimmesdale naturally and whats more he lives with Dimmesdale as his home physician. So he takes every chance to torture Dimmesdale. He often asks something about Hester and he often speaks something serious to frighten the poor minister which makes his illness worse and worse and his sanity almost goes crazy.E. To the SocietyTo the society he is a sacrifice. He wants to protect his lover but he doesnt. He prefers to keep his status in the world rather than stand out to reveal he is the man who commits adultery with Hester and who is Pearls father. Because he thinks he is a clergyman and he scares to confess to the public as a respectable minister. If he tells the secret he would lose his authority and he would have to bear the scorns coming from the towns people. Dimmesdales conflictA. As a MinisterAs a clergyman under that condition(where adultery and mean behaviors are forbidden strictly), Dimmesdale cant refrain himself from the attraction of Hesters and lose himself. But he knows it cant be accepted by the public so he chooses to conceal himself and he excapes from the punishment of the public. Although these, he cant avoid facing his inner heart. He inflicts himself in mental. When he cant undertake the pain of his soul, he beats himself badly in his secret room and he creeps to stand on the scaffold on which Hester once stood to lessen his torturement and to decrease his pain in mental. His health is gradually worse and worse. He makes Chillingworth his home doctor. At the same time he doesnt know, to him, Chillingworth likes something evil to torture him every day. Once a time he also wanted to run away with Hester but he didnt do that. He is so paradoxical and finally he chose to keep silent again. He recognizes he is destroying himself and he could hardly bear it.B. To PearlTo Pearl, he wants to treat her as a father, but out of his hypocrisy he gives up the idea. One scene in the novel, we see Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl, they three stand on the scaffold together to pray, through which we also say that Dimmesdale is really poor who only have to creep all his life. Dimmesdale is full of paradox. Dimmesdales tragedyDimmesdale as a respectable clergyman he has a high status at that time. He should be pious and purity in thought. He should devote all his life to preach but he fails. He falls in love with Hester and commits adultery with her. Whats worse they have a child Pearl. He once said to Hester: ”You cant imagine how I am afraid of this meeting with you but on the other hand I extremely expect this meeting,” which shows to us that Dimmesdale is very paradoxical. He is suffering both mental and physical. Finding a way to lessen or eliminate his emotional pain he inflicts himself in his body such as whipping himself and making himself starvation. Whats more, in order to feel the suffering Hester bears he also forge the letter A in his chest. But they all dont work. At last he tells out the town of his sin, he will never be able to live them with himself. Maybe the unbearable scorn of the people would be too much for him to handle and he would eventually lose all his sanity. Luckily, he doesnt need to facing the scold because when he tells out his secret on the scaffold he dies in the hug of Hesters peacefully, which to him is the real meaningful relief from his guilty forever. Comment on DimmesdaleIn the long run of history, some praise Dimmesdale but most may think he is hypocrisy. No matter what it is, we should admit that he is a true man. He is hypocritical and he has so many shortcomings but t last, he relieves himself. He overcomes all the difficulties after a long times suffering and conflict in his soul. He wins, he saves himself, he comes back to the true life and feels warm from Hester. He is a successful character. In my heart he even suffers more than Hester. He has a very important state in the book and in many peoples heart.The analysis of Arthur Dimmesdale in the Scarlet LetterThesis StatementAlthough there have been many analysis of Dimmesdale in the scarlet letter I think we also have some improvements about the character of Dimmesdale from the angle of his inner movement.Outline. Introduction. Dimmesdales rank in the countryA. As a ClergymanB. As Hesters LoverC. As a FatherD. To ChlillingworthE. To the Society . Dimmesdales conflictA. As a MinisterB. To Pearl. Dimmesdales tragedy. Comment on Dimmesdale. Works sitedThe analysis of Arthur